Image caption
Volunteer Cornwall explore new ways for people to get involved in the design and delivery of local services

Cornwall Council has secured a cash grant from the Big Lottery Fund to help develop its volunteering policy.

Working alongside local charity Volunteer Cornwall, Cornwall Council is providing opportunities and training to staff at no cost to council tax payers.

Currently almost a 150,000 people give up their time which equates to more than 25m hours a year.

Andy Brelsford from Volunteer Cornwall said they could place anyone "no matter what their age, experience or skill".

Cornwall Council is looking for volunteers across a range of services including, opportunities within the Children's Centres, supporting adults with learning disabilities, helping the countryside teams, and getting involved with libraries and schools.

Mr Brelsford said Cornwall's high volunteering rates were down to a belief that "we still value that sense of community and helping each other".

Mark Mitchell, who works as a school governor at Bosvigo School, said: "I enjoy it thoroughly, it's very rewarding and I'm very privileged to be involved."